Sports writing is a dream job.
Think about it. I work daily with athletes the public pays to watch perform. I talk to them in person, sometimes one-on-one, and gain insight into what makes them Division I athletes.
There are challenges. Countless hours are spent writing under strict deadlines. Tough losses can leave athletes upset and reluctant to talk to the media. Occasionally, athletes and readers are frustrated by the stories I write and trust me, they let me know about it.
You slip past the egos and the bright yellow and green uniforms and there is a realization – these athletes are your normal, everyday college students.
Capturing these tangible, real life personalities and transforming them into a compelling story is what makes sports writing a rewarding, albeit stressful, pastime.
This summer I traded the athletes for
authors, actors and Pooper Scoopers. I
left Eugene for a 10-week internship with
my hometown newspaper, The Ventura
County Star.
Situated an hour and a half north of Los
Angeles on the 101 Freeway, you can understand why Ventura is an appealing destination. It offers a wide variety of entertainment, sports and beaches.
Here I arrived, a sports enthusiast, with minimal writing experience outside athletics. But like other challenges I’ve faced, I adapted and learned on the job. I realized quickly that these new personalities are like athletes – normal, everyday people – only they express their
creativity through other outlets.
I met a National Geographic writer who travels across the world writing about
his experiences.
James Roday, the star of the USA network hit show “Psych,” openly described the
challenging path to television success.
The entertainment industry with television, movies and often overwhelming media coverage leaves the public believing all actors and actresses live lifestyles consisting of parties, parties and well, more parties. I interviewed actress Tina Majorino of “Napoleon Dynamite,” who acts because she loves the craft. Majorino lives outside the media glare, where she can live near her family and be herself.
I traveled to Santa Barbara and met Dallas Woodburn, a promising young writer who is the author of “3 a.m.,” a collection of short stories. Pooper Scoopers explained how it makes a quality living picking up customers’ dog poop.
Sports have a way of disguising reality. Big crowds and rivalry games overshadow everyday happenings. Arts and Living gave
me perspective.
Cancer survivors described yoga’s relaxing and healing qualities. I listened to a woman whose dad committed suicide years ago on Father’s Day. She honored his memory by participating in the Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk in San Francisco last July, sponsored by the American Suicide Foundation.
I returned to Eugene two weeks ago, excited to return to sports writing, but at the same time, a better journalist with a new outlook on writing.
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